Creatures Of Circumstance

by W. Somerset Maugham

The short stories in this extraordinary collection -- with the exception of one -- were written after the close of World War I. Maugham shrewdly and brilliantly exploited the public taste of his time to put on display the changing morality of the century. An expert storyteller, he was also a master of fictional technique. His fiction offers a synthesis of pleasures in the form of realism, exoticism, shrewd and ironic observation, careful craftsmanship, and characterization. Among the stories included in Creatures of Circumstance are "The Colonel's Lady", "Flotsam and Jetsam", "Sanatorium", "Appearance and Reality", "The Point of Honour", "A Woman of Fifty", "The Man from Glasgow", and "The Kite".

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction

310 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

William Somerset Maugham was born in Paris in 1874. He spoke French even before he spoke a word of English, a fact to which some critics attribute the purity of his style.

His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in Of Human Bondage, Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he almost literally starved while pouring out novels and plays.

Maugham wrote at a time when experimental modernist literature such as that of William Faulkner, Thomas Mann, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf was gaining increasing popularity and winning critical acclaim. In this context, his plain prose style was criticized as 'such a tissue of clichés' that one's wonder is finally aroused at the writer's ability to assemble so many and at his unfailing inability to put anything in an individual way.

During World War I, Maugham worked for the British Secret Service . He travelled all over the world, and made many visits to America. After World War II, Maugham made his home in south of France and continued to move between England and Nice till his death in 1965.

At the time of Maugham's birth, French law was such that all foreign boys born in France became liable for conscription. Thus, Maugham was born within the Embassy, legally recognized as UK territory.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is often the case with short story collections, this is a mixed bag. First published in 1947, some of the attitudes expressed, particularly towards women and people of other nationalities, have dated badly. A number of the stories have been dramatised for radio or film.

The collection's title gives a clue to its overriding theme, an exploration of how people react to circumstances forced upon them and how the decisions they make as a result shape their lives.

Having enjoyed Maugham's Ashenden, a collection of interconnected stories about a spy during the First World War (based on the author's own experience working for British Intelligence) it was nice to see him pop up again in 'The Sanatorium' and also as an attentive listener in another couple of stories.

'Winter Cruise' is an amusing story about a woman's experiences as the only passenger on a cruise. The crew tire of her incessant talking, which is actually born of her keen interest in other people, and come up with a solution to ensure peaceful meal times.

'A Man from Glasgow' is a creepy story, which might have been written by M. R. James, in which a man is so unnerved by the sound of laughter from an empty house reputed to have been previously inhabited by a madman he seeks to flee the country.

The standout story in the collection is 'The Unconquered' set in occupied France in World War 2. Two German soldiers arrive at a farm where they threaten the farmer's family and get drunk on the farmer's wine. One of them, Hans, rapes the farmer's daughter and when she falls pregnant is unprepared for the intensity of her hatred towards him.

[L J Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another collection of Maugham’s short tales from the later part of his writings. These lack the punch of the first four books of his stories. However, as ever, Maugham is so enjoyable Ann author that it hardly matters.

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you do nothing else for the rest of your life, read his short story "The Unconquered". Then see for how long you were holding your breath, and how long it takes you to get your breath back.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not really a fan of short stories but this collection is fascinating. Maugham's reputation of being a good story teller shows here. He wrote with ingenuity on human nature, how they react to the circumstances trusted upon them. And how those choices shaped their lives. Truly a masterpiece. My favourite is 'Winter Cruise". Such a delightful piece.

[عُلا الفوارس · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read a man of glasgow only from this collection and it was good

[Federica · Rating 4 out of 5]

La gente considera che le mancate di rispetto se dimostrate di non ricordarla. Suppongo che noi tutti diamo troppa importanza a noi stessi, e ci sentiamo umiliati quando constatiamo di non aver lasciato la più piccola traccia nella memoria delle persone che abbiamo conosciute.

- Una donna di cinquant'anni

[Srikanth Kanakam · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than 100 years old....still a fantastic read....i wouldn't say short..just the right size for the context of the story....a style of story telling almost non existent today.

[Adam Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece. One of my favourite books so far by my favourite author. Being someone who is from Malaysia, it was a joy to read stories, short snippets of how my country was like in the early 20th century. One my life's goal is to read all of Somerset Maugham's works and i daresay this may be his best one yet.

[Aabha Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite stories were the ones exploring relationships and love, fickleness and obsession, human nature. The last two stories, about prisoners from wormwood scrubs were excellent. I could read a whole book exploring prison stories, how the prisoner got there etc. very Victorian and a little dark.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this collection after watching the 1948 film Quartet, which adapts four W. Somerset Maugham short stories. The endings of two of the filmed stories felt so tacked on that I wanted to read the source (which, as suspected, did not have the weird conclusions undercutting the story as a whole)

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these short stories. Couldn't put it down.

[Lenore Neerbasch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of short stories. I prefer novels. However every story was great! The characters were so interesting and every story made me think.

[Luisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Amo Maugham, ma confermo che i racconti non fanno per me...

[Ray Noyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may sound odd, but this book was one that I remember seeing as a child on my parents' bookshelf, so that I'd often wondered what it was like. Reading it as an adult I realised why they may have had a copy - it's just superb. And what a title! Aren't we all such creatures?

[Redwan amazigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maugham is to me a very special one whose books refreshed me and relaxed me till the end. The clear impressions i carry about the author's style is that there is nothing to stop you enjoying the company of his characters, or the plot he weaves around them. His written thoughts also reflect the fact that no one in this world can lead a life free of fear or worry

[caroline filler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Maugham he is one of my favourites. This is a collection of short stories. He is a master of the short story, a form not as fashinable as it used to be. Well worth anyone's time.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really intriguing short stories. Some themes overlapped a bit but well worth the read.